The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-28
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Singular Story of His Arrest on Suspicion of |
Treasure-Steailng.

O1
Treasure-Steallng.
Admission tAla.) Special.
Jefferson Davis has had a good many narrow
escapes, but one of them has never been told in
print. and the chief actor in the affair has never
cared TO talk about it.
Somewhere along in the fifties the Mobiles an
English family residing in Pennsylvania. deci-
ded to move southwark. They selected Rome
their journey, after making the necessary dispo-
sition of their goods and cha,tels
The Mobiles had some family jewels and about
81, 600 in cash. How to carry these valuables
safely. bothered them not little, but they
packed the money and jewels in an old-fashioned
English hand-chest and took them along The
travellers landed at Charleston, and took the
next train for their destination. Some extra
fare WAS demanded, and in paying 1t they had
to open their chest and expose their treasure
Sharp eyes were on tho watch, and the glitter
of the contents of the chest attracted attention.
AS matter of precausion, the chest was con-
fded to Miss Mary Noble, who sat in secluded
AT Branchville. S. c.. two gentlemen boarded
the train. One was a young. wiry-looking man.
and the other was tall and slender, past the
meridian of life, and Of distinguished appear
anca.
When Augusta was reached the two strangers
went to Atlanta and the Mobiles discovered
that their precious chest was missing. The
conductor was DANGEROUSLY appealed to, and ne
instantly gave it as his opinion that 1.-The one
eyed man had stolen it."
He is a bad looking fellow" said the con-
ductor.
The chest had evidently been snatched out OF
the rear window of the car. as the suspected
man took bis departure at moment when Miss
Mobiles attention was liked In some other dlrec-
ton.
After a consultation, it decided that Mrs
Noble and Miss Mary should proceed to Atlanta
80 cause the arrest of the supposed thief while
Mr.. Noble and the others remained in Augusta.
awaiting, not very onfdeutly, the result.
Mrs. Noble succeeded in tracing the two men
to their stopping place in Atlanta, and identified
them soon as she saw them. At her request
they were arrested and carried to police head
quarters, where the astonishing discovery was
made that 1.-The oneeyed man" was President
Pierce's Secretary of War, jefferson Davis, and
his companion was his private secretary.
Mr. Davis in q good humor, and. of
course, the two gentlemen were at once released
Before leaving. Mr.. Davis told Mrs. Noble and
her daughter that he regretted their loss, and he
rendered them $50 gold piece as an evidence OF
his sympathy. Mrs. Noble declined to accept
the gift, but Miss Mary spoke up and said
"Yes. take It. That is some OF our money
that the old rascal took"
Mr.. Davis smiled ard pressed the money upon
Mrs. Noble, who finally took it, and carried to
her husband in Augusta
Suspicion then directed to the conductor,
but his sudden death in the course of q few days
stepped further investigation.
After the election of Mr.. Davis to the Presi
dency of the Southern Confederacv, MIR. Noble
then prosperous contractor, visited him at
Montgomery, and talked with him about manu-
featuring cannon. Mr. Davis asked him several
questions and then referred to the loss of the
chest He then introduced Mr.. Noble to Mrs.
Davis, and told the story of the arrest. Mrs.
Davis laughed heartily over the incident and,
with her husband, took quite interest in the
Mobiles from that time.
Noble went to work and made hundreds of
cannon for the Confederacy. Later, he founded
aud built up the f1ourshing city of Admission, in
Alabama. In the midst of his prosperity he is
once supposed to be the author of his greatest
misfortune.